EDISON, NJ - The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference celebrates its 40th Anniversary throughout the 2020-21 academic year, continuing its mission to provide student-athletes the opportunity to succeed in both academics and athletics.
The 40th Anniversary Track and Field Team highlights some of the best student-athletes in MAAC history. MAAC Indoor Track and Field traces back to 1989, when Army swept the first MAAC Championship for both the men and women. Manhattan College leads the conference with 18 men's championships and 14 women's championships. On the men's side, Monmouth University has six titles, while former MAAC member Army West Point holds two of their own. For the women, Monmouth comes in with six championships, followed by Saint Peter's University with three championships.
The MAAC Indoor Track and Field Championships are set to return Feb. 20-21 in 2021 at the New Balance Armory Track and Field Center in New York City.
Liam Dee '18 '19MA
Liam Dee had success across all seasons for Iona, but in his 2016-17 campaign he reached his peak during the indoor track & field campaign. His winter eagerness resulted in a seventh-place finish in the mile race at the 2017 NCAA D1 Championships. Dee enjoyed the mile sprint and won the event three times at MAAC Championships in 2015, 2017 and 2018.
Dee was honored with the Joseph E. O'Connell award in 2018 and had two USTFCCCA All-Academic honors.
Mitch Goose '13
Mitch Goose was named the MAAC Championship's Most Outstanding Track Performer in 2012, winning the mile race in 3:59.26 and being part of the winning DMR team as well. He qualified for the 3,000-meter race at the NCAA Championships and placed 16th.
Goose was a two-time MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year.
Richard Kiplagat '06
On the indoor track, Richard Kiplagat finished fourth in the NCAA Championship 5,000-meter in 2003 and improved to third in 2004. As a junior, he tackled the 3,000-meter event and finished fourth overall. As a senior in 2006, he won two All-American honors by finishing fourth again in the 3k and second in the 5k at the University of Arkansas. Kiplagat was also the first-ever Iona harrier to run a sub-four minute mile with his time of 3:57.40 at the 2006 NYC Gotham Cup.
Including his indoor and outdoor careers, Kiplagat won all nine career MAAC Championship events he participated in and was a six-time IC4A Champion. Upon graduation, he held Iona records in the indoor mile, 3k and 5k and outdoor 5k events.
Kiplagat was a two-time MAAC Male Student-Athlete of the Year.
Leonard Korir '12
During the winter season, Leonard Korir racked up accolades and records while at Iona. He won the 5,000-meter race at the 2011 NCAA Championship. Korir claimed gold when he ran a then-Iona record time. He also earned All-American honors that year in the 3,000-meter with a sixth-place finish. Korir earned two All-American honors again in the 3k and 5k events as a senior in 2012. He placed sixth in the 5k and eighth in the 3k.
Korir was Iona's first ever NCAA Champion, accomplishing the feat twice in 2011 in the indoor 5,000-meter and outdoor 10,000-meter events and was an eight-time NCAA All-American. At the conference level, his winning resulted in being named the 2011 MAAC Most Outstanding Track Performer.
Korir has continued to run after graduating from Iona College. He has carried his Maroon & Gold work ethic to the international stage. Korir participated in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in the 10,000-meter event. He placed 14th in the global event. He was the first American Olympian for the Maroon & Gold, and he was the second USA runner to finish the 10K race.
Packie Mulvany '93 '02MST
Packie Mulvany was one of the first Gaels to leave their successful footprint on the indoor track & field program. He qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in the mile race in 1991, 1993 and 1994. In 1991, he set an Iona indoor track record with a 4:02.48 time. Additionally, Mulvany placed third in the mile race at the Millrose Games meet in 1993 and then second in 1994. He began collecting gold in the mile race at the 1990 MAAC Championships.
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